The papacy has been surrounded by numerous myths and legends. Among the most famous are the claims that: The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. ... In the academic fields of mythology, mythography, and folkloristics a myth is a sacred story concerning the origins of the world or how the world and the creatures in it came to have their present form. ... A legend (Latin, legenda, things to be read) is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude. ...

• The Papal Tiara contains a set of words that when numerised produce the total 666, the 'number of the beast' in the bible (in fact, there are no words on the Papal Tiara);
• A woman—Pope Joan—was once elected pope, and that because of this, subsequent popes underwent an examination to ascertain their sex.

Both these claims have been independently determined to be false. The Papal Tiara, also known as the Triple Tiara, in Latin as the Triregnum, or in Italian as the Triregno, is the three-tiered jewelled papal crown of Byzantine and Persian origin that is the symbol of the papacy. ... Events Wighard elected Archbishop of Canterbury Chertsey Abbey is founded Barking Abbey is founded Deaths Yeon Gaesomun dictator of Goguryeo (birthdate unknown; other sources indicate death date as 664 or 665) Category: ... The Papess, a Marseilles tarot card of the 18th century, depicts a female Pope. ... Look up Sex in Wiktionary, the free dictionary This article is about biological sexes — male, female, etc. ...

Popes who died during sex

Catholic Popes who were said to have died during sex: Pope Leo VII (936–939) died of a heart attack while allegedly making love to a young boy, Pope John XII (955–964) was bludgeoned to death by the husband of the woman he was with at the time, Pope John XIII (965–972) was also murdered by a jealous husband. Pope Leo VII Leo VII (died July 13, 939), pope from January 3, 936 until his death in 939, was preceded by John XI, and followed by Stephen IX. References 9th edition (1880s) of the Encyclopædia Britannica Categories: Papal stubs | Popes ... John XII (born in Rome circa 937, died May 14, 964), was Pope from 955 to 963, was the son of Alberic II, whom he succeeded as patrician of Rome in 954, being then only eighteen years of age. ... John XIII of Crescenzi family (born in Rome; died September 6, 972) served as Pope from October 1, 965 until his death in 972. ...

The Vicarius Filii Dei myth

Main article: Vicarius Filii Dei

One common myth surrounding the papal tiara suggests that the words Vicarius Filii Dei exist on the side of one of the tiaras. This myth is believed by many conservative Seventh-day Adventist church members (and was once officially taught), but is now contrary to the official belief of that church. Vicarius Filii Dei, Representative of the Son of God in Latin, is a phrase used in the forged Donation of Constantine referring to Saint Peter. ... Beauty pageant tiara A tiara (from Persian تاره tara borrowed by Latin as tiara) is a form of crown. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ...

The myth centres on the widely made claim that, when numerised (i.e., when those letters in the 'title' that have roman numeral value are added together), they produce the number '666', described in the Book of Revelation as the number of the Antichrist (whom some have claimed would 'wear' a crown similar to a triple tiara). This claim has been made by some conservative Protestant sects who believe that the Pope, as head of the Roman Catholic Church (in their cosmology, the Whore of Babylon), is the Antichrist or False Prophet. However, a detailed examination of all the tiaras shows that no such decoration exists. The system of Roman numerals is a numeral system originating in ancient Rome, and was adapted from Etruscan numerals. ... Visions of John the Evangelist, as depicted in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. ... In Christian eschatology, the Antichrist has come to mean a person, image of a person, or other entity that is the embodiment of evil and utterly opposed to truth, while convincingly disguised as wholly good and a bringer of truth. ... The Whore of Babylon rides the seven-headed Beast. ... In Christian eschatology, the Antichrist has come to mean a person, image of a person, or other entity that is the embodiment of evil and utterly opposed to truth, while convincingly disguised as wholly good and a bringer of truth. ... False prophet is a label given to a person who is viewed as illegitimately claiming charismatic authority within a religious group. ...

Further, "Vicarius Filii Dei" (Latin for "Vicar of the Son of God") is not among the titles of the Pope; the closest match is "Vicarius Christi" ("Vicar of Christ", also rendered in English as "Vicar of Jesus Christ"), the numerical values of which do not add up to 666. Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...

There is also a dispute on the numerology of "Vicarius Filii Dei" and "Vicarius Christi". If one counts the letter 'U' as that, the numbers add up to 661 and 209; however, the Romans did not have that letter but instead used 'V'; therefore, if one uses the Roman spelling "Vicarivs Filii Dei" one does indeed come up with 666 (Vicarivs Christi, the real title, comes up to 214).

Pope Joan

The claim that a woman, often called Pope Joan, became pope first appeared in a Dominican chronicle in 1250. It soon spread Europe-wide through preaching Friars. The story grew in embellishment but centred on a set of claims. The Papess, a Marseilles tarot card of the 18th century, depicts a female Pope. ... Events December 13 - Death of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Louis IX of France is captured by Muslims and has to ransom himself Mabinogion appears Albertus Magnus isolates the element arsenic Vincent of Beauvais writes proto-encyclopedic The Greater Mirror City of Stockholm founded Alphonso III of Portugal takes Algarve... A friar is a member of a religious order of men. ...

The time period for this is traditionally given as AD 855–858, between the reigns of Leo IV and Benedict III. However, this is very unlikely, since Leo IV died on 17 July 855, and Benedict III was elected as his successor on 29 September of the same year. Events Louis II succeeds Lothar as western emperor. ... Events Patriarch Ignatius is imprisoned and (December 25) deposed to be succeeded by patriarch Photius I. Louis the German invades West Francia, hoping to secure Aquitaine from his brother Charles the Bald, but fails. ... Leo IV, called Chozar or the Khazar (c. ... Benedict III, prior to his election, had a reputation for learning and piety, and elected on the refusal of the initial choice of clergy and people, Hadrian: a group of important people preferred Anastasius. ... Leo IV, called Chozar or the Khazar (c. ... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... Events Louis II succeeds Lothar as western emperor. ... Benedict III, prior to his election, had a reputation for learning and piety, and elected on the refusal of the initial choice of clergy and people, Hadrian: a group of important people preferred Anastasius. ... September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years). ...

Jean de Mailly, a French Dominican at Metz, places the story in the year 1099, in his Chronica Universalis Mettensis, which dates from approximately 1250 and gives what is almost certainly the earliest authentic account of the woman who became known as Pope Joan. His compatriot, Stephen of Bourbon, acknowledges this, by placing her rule at approximately 1100. Also, Rosemary and Darrell Pardoe, authors of The Female Pope: The Mystery of Pope Joan. The First Complete Documentation of the Facts behind the Legend, are assuming that a more plausible timeframe would be 1086–1108, when there were a lot of antipopes, and the reign of the legitimate popes Victor III, Urban II and Paschal II was not always established in Rome, since this city was occupied by Emperor Henry IV, and later sacked by the Normans. Antipope Felix V, the last historical Antipope. ... The Blessed Victor III, né Dauferius (b. ... Urban II, né Otho of Lagery (or Otto or Odo) (1042 - July 29, 1099), pope from 1088 to July 29, 1099, was born into nobility in France at Lagery (near Châtillon-sur-Marne) and was church educated. ... Paschal II, né Ranierius (d. ... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni (Left-Wing Democrats) Area  - City Proper  1285 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,553,873 almost 4,300,000 1. ... An emperor is a (male) monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. ... HEINRIC·IMP[ERATOR], Emperor Henry Henry IV (November 11, 1050 – August 7, 1106) was King of Germany from 1056 and Emperor from 1084, until his abdication in 1105. ... The Normans (adapted from the name Northmen or Norsemen) were a mixture of the indigenous people of France and the Viking invaders under the leadership of Hrolf Ganger, who adopted the French name Rollo and swore allegiance to the king of France (Charles the Simple). ...

Generally, there are two versions of the myth.

• In the first, an English woman called Joan, went to Athens with her lover and studied there.
• In the second, a German woman called Giliberta was born in Mainz.

"Joan" disguises herself as a monk, called Joannes Anglicus. In time, she rose to the highest office of the church, becoming a pope. Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st... Athens (Greek: Αθήνα Athína IPA ) is the capital of Greece and one of the most famous cities in the world. ... Mainz (French: Mayence) is a city in Germany and the capital of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. ... A Roman Catholic monk A monk is a person who practices monasticism, adopting a strict religious and ascetic lifestyle, usually in community with others following the same path. ...

After two or five years of reign, Pope Joan became pregnant, and during an Easter procession, she gave birth to the child on the streets when she fell off a horse. She was publicly stoned to death by the astonished crowd, and according to the legend, removed from the Vatican archives. Easter is the most important religious holiday of the Christian liturgical year, observed in March, April, or May to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, which Christians believe occurred after his death by crucifixion in AD 27-33 (see Good Friday). ...

As a consequence, popes throughout the medieval period were (supposedly) required to undergo a procedure wherein they sat on a special chair with a hole in the seat. A cardinal would have the task of putting his hand up the hole to check whether the pope had testicles. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Human male anatomy The testicles, known medically as testes (singular testis), are the male generative glands in animals. ...

In a seventeenth-century study, Protestant historian David Blondel argued that 'Pope Joan' is a myth. The story may well be a satire that came to be believed as reality. This view is generally accepted among historians.

Documents of Jesus Christ

Another legend of the Vatican is that, buried in the archives beneath St. Peter's Basilica, there exists a collection of documents that directly refer to, or were in fact personally written by, Jesus. One such document is said to be the execution order for Jesus, signed by Pontius Pilate, while another is said to be a series of letters, hand-written by Jesus, explaining to his followers how to conduct the formation of the Catholic Church after his death. Still other legends speak of Christ having revealed the exact date of his return to judge mankind in a letter to his Apostles. For other uses of the word Archive, see Archive (disambiguation) Archives refers to a collection of records, and also refers to the location in which these records are kept. ... The Basilica of Saint Peter from Castel SantAngelo. ... Jesus is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help take it from Good to Featured article status. ... Ecce Homo (Behold the Man!), Antonio Ciseris depiction of Pontius Pilate presenting a scourged Jesus of Nazareth to the people of Jerusalem Pontius Pilate (Classical Latin Pontivs Pilatvs; Ecclesiastical Latin Pontius Pilatus) was the governor of the Roman province of Judea from AD 26 until around AD 36. ...

It is said that only the Pope may look upon these "original Jesus texts", and that the existence of such documents is a closely guarded secret of the Catholic Church. The legend of the Jesus documents most likely originated during the reign of Pope Pius XII when a large number of Vatican treasures were sealed in underground vaults in the event that Nazi Germany invaded the Vatican. The Venerable Pius XII, born Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Eugenio Pacelli (Rome, March 2, 1876 - October 9, 1958) served as the Pope from March 2, 1939 to 1958. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ...

See also

• Prophecy of the Popes
• List of sexually active popes

The Prophecy of the Popes, attributed to Saint Malachy, is a list of 112 short phrases in Latin. ... Since the 13th century, a discipline of the Catholic Church has required priests in Latin Rite (i. ...

Additional reading

• Eamon Duffy, Saints & Sinners: A History of the Popes (Yale Nota Bene, 2001)
• Colin Morris, The Papal Monarchy: The Western Church from 1050–1250 (Cambridge, 1990)
• K. Morrison, Tradition and Authority in the Western Church 300–1140 (Princeton, 1969)